The Spaldings police have reported that there was no foul play in the death of a 54-year-old woman who was found dead at her Low Wood residence in Clarendon on August 17.

According to a post-mortem report, Pauline Thomas, affectionately called 'Precious', of Fearon District in the parish, died as a result of fire and smoke inhalation.

According to reports, on the morning Thomas was found at her house, a neighbour smelled something burning and saw smoke coming from inside the house occupied by the dressmaker. It is reported that the neighbour did not pay it much attention until about 11 o'clock that morning when the smell of smoke remained. The neighbour became curious and decided to check on the possible cause.

It was further learnt that, upon checking, the smoke was coming from inside Thomas' house and no one could tell where she was, while the door to her house was locked. It was learnt that, in an effort to put out what appeared to be fire inside Thomas' room, the door had to be forced open.

THE Weekend STAR learnt that, upon entering the 54-year-old woman's room, her body was seen on the floor semi-nude, with a mattress beside her on fire. The Spaldings, police were alerted, and when her body was examined, there were no major visible injuries to it which could cause her death, except a bruise on one of her knees.

Thomas' death has since sent shock waves throughout her community, as many residents have said she was a quiet and hard-working dressmaker who attended her church at the St Luke's Anglican Church at Sanguinetti in the parish on a regular basis. Residents said she was not known as a woman who had a fuss with anyone, and they were curious as to what could have possibly caused her death.

The Spaldings and Mandeville police who conducted investigations were hoping that the post-mortem would have determined whether Thomas was raped and then strangled or if she had committed suicide.